Social Work at Benedict College

The numbers here raise immediate red flags, though the small sample size means a few graduates could be skewing the picture dramatically. Benedict's social work graduates carry $39,200 in debt—nearly 50% more than South Carolina's median for this field and almost double the national average—while earning $30,295, about $2,000 below the state median. That debt-to-earnings ratio of 1.29 means graduates are starting with debt exceeding their annual salary, a financially precarious position in a field known for modest pay.

What's particularly concerning: Benedict ranks in just the 5th percentile nationally for debt burden, meaning 95% of social work programs nationwide saddle students with less debt. The earnings disadvantage is less severe within South Carolina (40th percentile), suggesting the program isn't dramatically underperforming local peers, but graduates are still trailing Winthrop and Limestone by $3,000-$5,000 annually. Given that Benedict serves predominantly low-income students (63% receive Pell grants), this debt burden could prove especially difficult to manage on entry-level social work salaries.

With fewer than 30 graduates in this data, these figures might not represent typical outcomes. However, if you're considering this program, understand that the debt load appears substantial for any social work salary, and you'll want concrete evidence—placement rates, starting salaries for recent grads—that outcomes have improved or that financial aid packages significantly reduce borrowing below these levels.